C 152
"I think it was around here..."
I sneaked out of my room late at night and walked slowly along the dark street.
"I have memories from when I was a newborn..."
In fact, it was a bit surprising to remember a time when I was so young that a normal person wouldn't even recall it.
Well, I don't feel anything special.
It's been almost 20 years, so it's even stranger to think that there might still be traces of it.
"For some reason, I thought it would be okay to come here."
In the dark commercial district, only a few bars were illuminated.
There were only drunken people stumbling around in a half-asleep state, and there were no special signs.
"Was it my mistake?"
I thought that if I came here, I would meet the person who handed me over to the bastard.
"They say things like Creator's Enhancements no longer exist..."
I can't be complacent and think that everything will happen as I plan.
"Shall we go back?"
I was about to turn around while straightening the end of my robe. When I turned around, someone wearing a black robe was standing behind me.
I startled, and reflexively took a step back, but then stopped.
"This is another nostalgic face."
The person whose voice sounded somewhat familiar seemed to be a woman, with a fine soprano tone.
As it was such a pleasant voice to listen to, I became even more cautious.
It seemed like if I let my guard down even for a moment, she would disappear and have a drink and talk about the hardships of her life.
"Who... are you?"
"Well, don't you remember me, or do you not want to remember me?"
The woman in the robe tilted her head. It was a behavior that seemed somewhat strange.
"I can't say who you are if you don't explain properly. I don't think you're someone I've met recently."
However, it is definitely a voice that remains in my memory. I could see the woman's lips forming a curved line beneath the robe.
"Oh, the young one is really clever. But it's a bit disappointing to treat someone who saved your life like this."
Someone who saved my life?
Then I remembered why I came here. And even memories from my childhood.
["This child... when she grows up without... a destiny... the dragons... it's common for them to die."]
["Only then... the future will be peaceful and happy..."]
["...even if it's painful."]
["So remember, this is your daughter."]
Someone handed me over to the bastard. I don't remember the details, but from time to time, a voice would come to mind.
"No way, when I was young..."
"Yes! I pulled you out of that pile of dirt before you took your last breath."
The woman said with a smile.
At first glance, I saw sharp fangs. The woman lifted her head with a very happy expression.
Only then did her pure white skin appear. She was a beautiful woman with white skin, pink eyes, and silver hair.
She appeared to be around 40 years old, but somehow, she looked older than that.
"The soul has settled well and properly. It seems something strange is stuck..."
She brought her face closer, her eyes shining.
Although her face was so close to my nose that it felt burdensome, I didn't feel like avoiding it.
"Yes, I thought no more of our kind would be born in this world, but another comrade was born like this."
"...You're not my comrade."
"Yes, I'm like you. But strictly speaking, I'm weaker than you."
The woman said with bright eyes. It was as if golden eyes were shining within her pink irises.
"I'm Purple. Call me that. I'm the only dragon that has survived in this world."
It was like that.
She didn't seem to have changed much from the face of my last memory.
Not only that, but I had a strange feeling from the first time we met. She felt familiar, not unfamiliar.
"...You saved my life?"
"If you look at the conclusion, it may be so, but it was you who awakened me from my long slumber."
"Me?"
"Yes, you called me into life."
"Me...?"
Back then, I wouldn't have been in this world.
When I looked at her perplexed, she simply smiled without saying a word.
"I came here because I had a question."
"A question? With this old lady?"
On the outside, she appeared as a very polite person in her 40s, but the way she spoke sounded like that of a much older woman, so I felt a discrepancy.
"What?"
"How I was born, how I managed to survive, and... my mother. I wonder why she had me."
"Mmm..."
"For all that... it's possible that the Creator's will is involved in it."
Purple squinted her eyes at my words and shrugged halfway.
It was me who became nervous at her completely disinterested expression. Upon closer consideration, I probably had nothing to be embarrassed about.
"Did I come without any preparation?"
However, today, for some reason, my body moved faster than I had thought.
"Do you know anything about the things that interest me?"
"I do."
The woman removed her robe and smiled. I moved my hands carefully.
"I know what you are."
"...You do?"
"Yes, expendables who create worlds but receive no compensation."
My shoulders suddenly trembled at those firm and cold words.
"Poor and pitiful creatures."
The smile was like a waxing moon. Her eyes didn't smile; it was an unpleasant smile.
"If something breaks, the being is crushed, and a new soul is created again. Yes, like melting broken iron at high heat and turning it into a new object."
I wasn't very pleased that she pressed my sore spot with a smiling face.
She must have seen my expression stiffen, and before I knew it, she had even curved her eyes and was smiling.
"Don't take offense so much. I'm just talking about the world's evaluation. It's not my opinion."
She shrugged.
"And the only soul that has escaped from that slavery."
"......"
"I know a lot, and I have seen a lot. I have existed since the birth of this world. I am older than God."
"Older than God..."
"God is a being that only arises after faith is created in a complete world. I existed long before that."
The story is that there is nothing I don't know.
As she added these words, my body naturally tensed up. I thought I might be one step closer to the truth I had been seeking for so long.
"Can you tell me?"
"It's not difficult to do so."
"Then...!"
"What will you do if I tell you?"
She asked with a smile.
I was speechless for a moment.
I pursed my lips and then clenched my fists.
"Anything, if I can. Money... if you want something..."
"Money has no value to me. Well, would you like to come to my house?"
"Yes?"
"Just be my friend. Because I'm very bored and lonely. Loneliness was terrible and exhausting. So I slept for a long time. And I waited for you."
She smiled.
That smile seemed somewhat strange. Her eyes and mouth were empty, and I felt as if it was filled with complete darkness.
"If I become your friend..."
It's not difficult. I could come and go and do whatever I wanted.
I was about to give a positive answer.
"However, from the moment you come to my house, you won't be able to leave for 500 years."
She said, moving her face closer to mine. My mouth opened at the unexpected words.
"What...?"
"I will give you everything I have, whatever you want, as long as you keep me company until I die."
"That..."
I pursed my lips and slowly shook my head. It was a ridiculous proposal.
"I can't do that."
"No? Then I have nothing to tell you."
The woman stepped back slightly.
"I guess our meeting will end here."
The woman's body began to slowly fade away. I reached out in surprise.
"Wait!"
"...Oh, is the little one gripping me by the neck? Did your parents teach you that at home?"
"Well, over there... I apologize for that. I wish you would let me know."
I said, gripping her neck tightly with both hands and closing my eyes tightly.
The idea of respecting elders that was in me made me cry, but more than that, I wanted my father to know the truth.
"Do you really want to know? A part of a story that will eventually turn into nothing as you live in this world?"
"For some people, that's important."
"...Oh, really? Then it will be simple."
"Not until 500 years from now."
"Alright, then you can do me a favor."
"A... favor?"
"Yes. If you listen... there's nothing I can't tell you."
The dragon bared its teeth and smiled maliciously. It didn't feel good. However, the response I could give was fixed.
"Damn it."
